Season of woe hits home in money league

Albion's decline this season has seen them post the lowest percentage increase in broadcast income in the Premier League.

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In finishing 17th, the Baggies earned £65.8m this campaign, an increase of £17.5m on last year, which is a reflection of the Premier League's bumper £3.018bn deal over three seasons.

Albion's income rose by 36.2 per cent, but compared to the other clubs it is the lowest increase in the top flight, next to relegated duo Fulham (39.7 per cent) and Norwich (40.5). The two main reasons for the change in ratio are the merit payments based on where teams finish and the number of times they are shown live on TV.

The Baggies dropped from eighth place last season to 17th, and were only shown live nine times, the equal fourth lowest in the top flight.

Villa earned £6.9m more than Albion, picking up £72.7m, but their income showed a 61.6 per cent rise on last season after they were shown live 16 times.

Liverpool's chase for the title to the last day and entertaining football saw them screened live the most – 28 times – and earned them the highest income increase (apart from the promoted clubs) of 77.9 per cent, up by £42.7m to £97.5m.

But the huge scale of the new broadcasting agreement was reflected in the fact that bottom club Cardiff (£62.1m) earned £300,000 more TV cash than Manchester United did for winning the Premier League last year.

Champions Manchester City earned £96.6m in 2013-14 behind Liverpool while United bagged £89.1m. Liverpool picked up just over one-and-a-half times more than bottom earners Cardiff, but the ratio between top and bottom is the smallest in any of Europe's top leagues – Premier League TV revenue is distributed in a more competitive manner than in other major leagues on the continent.

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In all, Premier League clubs were paid £1.6bn from broadcasting revenue for the season, a 65 per cent increase from £972m in the 2012-13 campaign.

Stoke City featured on TV the least – just seven times – with Cardiff and Fulham shown on eight occasions.

Half of all domestic broadcast revenue is split evenly among the league's clubs, with a quarter of the money paid according to a team's league position, and the final 25 per cent depending on how often a team is televised. Overseas income amounted to a payment of £26.3m to each club.

Cardiff earned £22.4m more than QPR did when they occupied bottom spot 12 months ago.